Shoe-lace fastener.



C. B. SMITH SHOE LACE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1915.

1,154,066. PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

za A 5 IT12ESSES: 14/ 4 6/3 51'N I;NTOR.

.-. M 9 BYW A TT ORNE Y.

COLUMBIA FLANOORAPH couwAshmc'roM D C CHARLES B. SMITH, or GRAFTON,PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at 22 Maplewood avenue, Grafton, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Shoe-Lace Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fasteners employed inholding and securing thelacing terminals of shoes, gloves, parcel holders and numerous otherarticles, and has for its object to provide a simple and efiicientdevice for securely clamping the loose ends of a lacing or string to ashoe or other article, obviating the necessity and inconvenience ofunloosing the lace or string, which is a common source of annoyance inarticles fastened by lacings or strings.

To this end the said invention consists in the novel combination andarrangement of parts herein described, and particularly pointed out inthe accompanying claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification and which illustrate a form of my said invention, Figure1, is a side view of my improved lace fastener. Fig. 2, is a verticaldetail sectional view on line zv-x Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a verticalsectional view on line cz of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a sectional view on line'yy Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a plan view of the spring finger. Fig. 6, is abottom plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is an elevation of the springfinger. Fig.- 8, is a perspective view of the device attached to theupper part of a shoe. Fig. 9, is a plan view of my improved fastener.Fig. 10, is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form.

In the drawings 1, indicates the hollow shank having an integral head 2,or the said head may be formed separate of, and secured to the shank.Within the hollow shank 1, is arranged a helical spring 3, one end ofwhich engages the underface of the head 2, within the hollow portion ofsaid shank, while the opposite end of said spring engages the springfinger 4. The spring finger extends through the transverse slots oropenings 5 and 6, the former being of less dimension than the latter.The hollow shank 1, adjacent its lower end, is formed with a flange 7,and the fastener is secured to the shoe upper or article to which it isto be used in connection with, by inserting the portion of the shankbelow the said flange Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application filed March 1, 1915. seriaino. 11, 121.

into suitable openings and upsetting same, to form the flange 8, thematerial being thus securely gripped. between said flanges 7 and 8. Thespring finger 4, at its inner end, projects from without the smalleropening 5, of the shank and the said projecting portion, the finger isdownwardly bent at 9, into engagement 'with the flange 7. The oppositeend of the spring finger 4, which extends through the large slot oropening 6, is bent upwardly at 10, and underface is knurled at 11, toform a rough surface for gripping the lace 12, when the latter isinserted thereunder.

In the modification illustrated in Fig.10, the shank 1, is for thegreater part solid as at 13, having a hollow portion 14, in which islocated the flat V spring 15, the upper leg 16, of which engages theinterior solid portion of the shank. The lower leg 17, engages thespring finger 4, and serves to tension same into contact with the laceor string.

Both the preferred and modified forms of fastener,'are attached to thearticle in similar manner, the lower end of the shank being split as at19, to expedite the upsetting of same.

It is obvious that the laces or strings are bow knotted as illustratedin Fig. 8, the looped portions 20, are passed between the spring fingerand the shoe upper, or article to which the device is to be attached,and the lacing terminals 21, are positioned between the head 2, and theshoe upper. It will therefore be seen that the fastener is selflocking,that is to say, when the lacing is inserted between the spring fingers,the lacing is tightly held, and any pull on the lacing will thrust thelooped portions of the lacing against the shoe upper. The lacing may bereadily released by removing the terminals from under the head andfinger.

By this construction I am enabled to produce a fastener which willpositively and securely hold the lacing in place While at the same time,being simple of construction, and economical to manufacture, but it isunderstood that changes, variations and modifications can be resortedto, which comewithin the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A fastener for lacings or strings adapted to be secured to a shoe upper,and comprising a hollow shank formed with a head at its outer end, and aflange near its inner end,

said shank adjacent said flange being provided With transverse aliningopenings, a finger detaohably mounted in said openings and having aportion projecting therefrom, a spring arranged within said hollow shankand having one end engaging said finger whereby the said finger istensioned toward the shoe upper, that portion of the shank below saidflange adapted to upset, Where- 10 by the said fastener is secured tothe said shoe upper.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

16. B. SMITH. Witnesses:

RALPH DONATE, MARY C. MoGoWAN;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

